Disposable spray head



Sept. 6, 1960 c. A. PRICE ET AL DISPOSABLE SPRAY HEAD Filed Feb. 19,1957 ted States atent fiice 2,951,645 Fatented Sept. 6, 1%613 DISPOSABLESPRAY HEAD Clarence A. Price and William L. Rupp, Ann Arbor,

Mich., assignors to Bradson Manufacturing Corporation, Saline, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 641,106

8 Claims. (Cl. 239-318) The present invention relates to devices formixing and distributing liquids, and in particular to liquid mixing andspraying devices of the type that operate on the principle ofaspiration. This invention constitutes improvements over prior artdevices of the type disclosed in the patent to Budwig, No. 2,744,791.

In the aforesaid patent to Budwig, a bottle serves as a reservoir forconcentrated liquid, and a die cast member is screwed to the top of thebottle and serves to direct a stream of diluent liquid over an aperturedsurface creating a vacuum for aspirating the concentrated liquid fromthe bottle. The diluent and concentrated liquids are mixed and sprayedby this operation upon external objects.

In the prior art devices of this character, the die cast member isgenerally formed from a metal suitable for die casting and the bottle isgenerally made from glass. The devices are sold empty, and the purchaserfiTls the bottle with the desired concentrated liquid, attaches a waterhose, or the like, to the die cast member, and he is ready to start thespraying operation. When the concentrated liquid has been exhausted, anew supply is acquired and the bottle is refilled.

This procedure whereby the concentrated liquid is separately purchasedand later introduced into the bottle of a spraying device fails in someinstances to produce the best results. First, it causes inconveniencefor the user. Second, a concentrated liquid which might be effectivelymixed and sprayed with a diluent liquid when using one device of aprescribed size and design might not give the same satisfactory resultswhen using a device of different size and design. Thus, the manufacturerof the concentrated liquid is dependent upon the purchaser of theconcentrated liquid to use the proper mixing and spraying equipment ifthe intended results are to be obtained. Such proper selection is notalways made for various reasons, and therefore the results expected fromthe sprayed mixture are not always realized. Obviously, the concentratedliquid and the mixing and spraying device could be sold as a singlepackage, but this has not been practical heretofore because of the costinvolved and because of the need to effectively seal the concentratedliquid during handling and storage.

With the foregoing premises in mind, it is a principal object of thepresent invention to provide an improved liquid mixing and sprayingdevice which is constructed and arranged so that it can initially serveas a sealed container in which a concentrated liquid can be sold, andwhich can be readily adapted for use as a liquid mixing and sprayingdevice, said device being characterized by its low cost making iteconomically practical to dispose of the same after the concentratedliquid has been exhausted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedliquid mixing and spraying device of the foregoing character wherein asealing member is provided for the top of the bottle, said Sealingmember being constructed and arranged to provide an effective sealirrespective of limited variations in the internal dimensions oftheopening in the top of the bottle, thereby reducing the that may bediluted and cost of constructing the mixing and spraying device byallowing more liberal tolerances in manufacturing the bottle.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved liquid mixing and spraying device of the foregoing characterwherein the sealing member can be altered readily to allow passage ofconcentrated liquid therethrough during the aspirating operation, andwhich in other respects maintains an effective seal with the variousassociated parts to assure eifective aspiration.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved liquid mixing and Spraying device of the foregoing characterwherein the die cast member and the sealing member are made fromsuitable plastic materials.

Other objects of this invention will appearin the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational of an improved liquid mixing and sprayingdevice embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the lines 22 ofFig. 1 showing a sealing member before it has been altered to allowaspiration of concentrated liquid from the bottle;

Figure 3 is an enlarged portion shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of Fig.3 after the sealing member has been cut to allow aspiration of theconcentrated liquid; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the sealing membar as seen prior tobeing altered to permit aspiration of the concentrated liquid from thebottle.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawing, a more detailed description of theinvention will be given. The improved spray gun or liquid mixing andspraying device 10 has a bottle or reservoir 12 for holding aconcentrated liquid of a type sprayed to act as an insecticide, a weedkiller, a fertilizer, or the like. Screwed to the neck of the bottle 12is a mixing head or member 14 which in turn can be screwed to the outletend of a water hose (not shown) for supplying a diluent liquid for usein aspirating the concentrated liquid from the bottle 12. A sealingmember 16 fits over the open top of bottle 12, and a flexible tube 18 isattached at its upper end to the sealing member 16 so as to form acontinuation thereof and the lower end of tube 18 extends to a positionadjacent the bottom of bottle 12. These four parts constitute the mainelements of the present invention.

As previously stated, the member 14 has an extension 20 with a socket 21which is internally threaded at 22 for receiving the male end of aconventional garden hose coupling (not shown). The extension 21) isprovided with a jet hole or nozzle 24, the bore of which communicateswith the socket 21. The nozzle 24 is adapted to direct its jet onto asubstantially flat distributing surface 26 at an oblique angle theretoso that after the jet has impinged upon the distributing surface 26 itspreads out into a water sheet over portions of said surface 26.

The distributing surface 26 is located on the upper plan view of thefragmentary surface.

3 side of a platform 28 which projects upwards a suitable distance abovethe bottle cap portion 30 of the member 14. The bottle cap portion 30 isprovided with a socket having internal threads 32 for screwing onto the6K- ternally threaded neck portion 34 of the bottle 12 The member 14 isso proportioned and arranged. that the jet from nozzle 24 impinges uponthe distribution surface 26 just before reaching an aspiration orsuction aperture 36 which aperture may provide communication with thebottom of the bottle 12 in a manner to be described. impingement of thejet against the surface 26 before reaching the aperture 36 causes. thesheet of water to pass at considerablev velocity over the suctionaperture ca s ng a. vacuum to develop within the suction aperture 36,and when communication exists with the bottom of bottle 12. (in a,manner to be described) the concentrated liquid therein will be drawnupwards through the suction aperture 36 to'mix with and to be diluted bythe jet, of water. A duct 37 extends through the member 14 to allow airto enter the bottle 12. to maintain atmospheric. pressure on the surfaceof the concentrated liquid during the aspirating operation.

border to control starting and stopping of the aspirating operation aduct 38 provides communication between a region immediately belowsuction aperture 36 and the atmosphere. When it is desired to aspirateconcentrated liquid from bottle 12 it is necessary that this duct 38 beclosed, which can be accomplished merely by placing the finger of theuser over the open end 40.

.As stated above, in order to permit the concentrated liquid to be soldto the customer in the liquid mixing and. spraying device 10, it isnecessary thata low cost unit having an effective seal be provided. Inthe present invention such a seal is provided by the sealing member 16which is made from: a suitable plastic material such as flexiblepolyethylene. In its original form, as when initially being inserted. inplace after the bottle 12 has been filled with the concentrated liquid,there are no openings between its upper and lower sides. This can beseen in Figs. 2 and 5. Under these circumstances no liquid can flow orleak from; bottle 12 so long as the cap 30 remains screwed tightly ontobottle 12 and the outer edge, or outturned lip 42 of the sealing member16 is clamped between these screwed together parts. The sealing member16 is then in effect an imperfo-rate membrane over the top of: bottle12.

However, thesea-ling. member 16 is constructed and arranged so that itcan be altered to allow aspiration of the concentrated liquid flom thebottle 12. It will be observed that the member 14. has an enlargedoutwardly flared bore 44 in communication with the suction aperture 36.The sealing member 1.6v has a conduit portion 46 which is originallyclosed at its upper end, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5. The outer, upperwalls of the conduit portion- 46. converge so as to. fit in sealedrelation with the inner walls of the flared bore 44. In order toassure atight seal thev bore 44: has a circular ridge 48- on its inner Thematerial of the sealing member 16 being flexible will be compressedinward at the ridge 48 forming a tight joint.

The closed upper end'50 of the sealing member 16 can be cut off at thegroove 52 after the member 14 has been unscrewed from bottle 12. Whenthe parts are re-' assembled direct communication will then be providedbetween the suction aperture 36 and the bottom of the bottle by means ofthe flexible tube 18 which is connected to the lower end of the conduitportion 46. At the time the various parts are disassembled for cuttingaway the closed end 50, the plug 54 will also bepunched outso as toprovide communication between the surface of the concentrated liquid.and the duct 37. After reassembly the operator will be. in position tocontrol the aspirating operation merely. by opening or, closing the:

and downwardly turned lip or skirt 56 which will press against the sidesof the bottle neck to aid in effecting a tight seal so that there willbe no leakage past this lip. Since the present invention is intended tobe a disposable unit, it is desired to use low cost bottles and in suchproducts the tolerances on the inner diameter of the necks will vary.The lip 56, because of its resilient, flexible properties, will fitthese various sizes and provide effective seals for all. using low costdisposable bottles.

In addition, the member 14 is made from rigid polyethylene which can bemade in mass production quantities at relatively low cost so that member14 also will be disposable with bottle 12. Thus, the concentrated liquidcan be supplied to the consumer in a low cost, seaed spray gun which isdesigned to mix and spray the concentrated and diluent liquids in amanner to provide the best, results. When the supply of concentratedliquid has been exhausted the. spray gun can be. thrown away and a newfilled spray gun can be purchasedv which can be. put. into; use merelyby unscrewing the member 14, cutting the closed end 50 and punching outthe plug 54 of the sealing member 16, and screwing the member 14 back inplace.

Having thus, described our invention, we claim:

1 In combination: a container with an open top in which a, first liquidcan be stored; a, device removably mounted on said container over theopen: top for mixing and distributing liquids comprising a mixing headhaving a distributing surface thereon, said. head having a passagewayterminating at one end in an aperture in said surface, the other endopening into saidcontainer, and means positioned adjacent saiddistributing surface and aligned for angularly directing a stream of asecond liquid at a relatively highvelocity onto said distributingsurface to cause a sheet of said second liquid to pass over a portion ofsaid surface and said aperture to create a reduced pressure in saidpassageway for aspirating said first liquid from said container; and asealing member operably disposed between said container and. said deviceto prevent aspiration or leakage of said first liquid from saidcon:tainer, said sealing member having a conduit with a re.- movable closedend extending into said other end of said passageway andsaid conduit;forming a sealingfit with said. passageway when extending. thcreinto-..the other end of said conduit being adapted; to be; inserted into saidfirst liquid so that; on removal of said closed end aspiration of saidfirst: liquid from said; container can be efiected.

2'. In. combination: a container with an open top in which a firstliquid can be stored; a device; removably mounted on said container overthe, open top for mixing and distributing: liquids; comprising a mixinghead having adistributing. surface thereon, said head having apassageway terminating at one endfin an aperture in said surface, theother end opening into.- said container, means positiQIlCd: adjacentsaid. distributing surface and: aligned for anguiarhy directing a streamof a second liquid at a relatively high velocity onto. said distributingsurface to cause a sheet of said second: liquid to pass over a portion:of said surface and said aperture to: create a reduced pressure-in said'passageway'fo-r aspiratingsaid first liquid from said container, saiddevice. having a duct formed therein with one end opening to theinterior of said container and the other end opening to the atmospherefor maintaining atmospheric pressure on the surface of said first:liquid in said container; and a sealing member operably disposed betweensaid container and said device to prevent aspiration or leakage of saidfirst liquid from Said" container, said' sealing member having a conduitwith a removable closed end extending: into. saidother end ofsaidpassageway and said conduit forming a sealing fit with saidpassagewaywhen extending thereinto, the other end of said conduit; beingadapted tobe inserted into,- said: first liquid so: that on removal ofsaid closed end aspinationof; said finst. liquid; from said. containerThus, a good seal is provided while can be effected, and a plug adaptedto be punched out to provide communication between said duct and theinterior of said container.

3. In combination: a container with an open top in which a first liquidcan be stored; an aspirating and liquid mixing device removably mountedon the open top of said container and having means on its upper externalportion for aspirating said first liquid from said container through apassageway extending into the latter and thereafter for cooperating inmixing the aspirated liquid with a second liquid supplied from aseparate source, said device having a downwardly diverging duct formingthe upper portion of said passageway; said duct having a radiallyinwardly projecting rib around its inner surface; and a sealing membersecured between the top of said device closing liquid communicationbetween said container and said device, said sealing member having anupwardly projecting portion closed at one end and extending into saiddiverging duct to form an intermediate segment of said passageway, saidportion being adapted when said device and container are disassembled tohave its closed end removed so that on reassembling the parts liquid canflow through said passageway, said sealing member being formed from aresilient material relatively softer than the material forming saiddevice so that when said upwardly projecting portion is pressed intosaid downwardly diverging duct the rib will deflect the side wall of thesealing member inwardly efiecting a tight joint.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said device is formed froma rigid polyethylene plastic and said sealing member is formed from aflexible polyethylene plastic.

5. In combination: a container with an open top in which a first liquidcan be stored; an aspirating and liquid mixing device removably mountedon the open top of said container and having means on its upper externalportion for aspirating said first liquid from said container forcooperating in mixing the aspirated liquid with a second liquid suppliedfrom a separate source, said device having a vertical bore extendingtherethrough which can form the upper segment of an imperforate passagethat extends to the first liquid; and a sealing member secured betweenthe top of said container and said device closing liquid communicationbetween said container and said device, said sealing member having aprojection that extends into the bore of the device and forms a sealingfit therewith, said projection having a vertical bore therein closed atone end and which bore can form a segment of said passage, said sealingmember having an imperforate tube extending from the bore therein to thefirst liquid, the bore in the sealing member being adapted when saiddevice and container are disassembled to have its closed end removed sothat on reassembling the parts a continuous passage is formed throughwhich the first liquid can flow.

6. In combination: a container with an open top in which a first liquidcan be stored; an aspirating and liquid mixing device removably mountedon the open top of said container and having means on its upper externalportion for aspirating said first liquid from said container and forcooperating in mixing the aspirated liquid with a second lquid suppliedfrom a separate source, said device having a vertical bore extendingtherethrough which can form the upper segment of an imperforate passagethat extends to the first liquid; and a sealing member having aperipheral edge secured between the top of said container and saiddevice closing liquid communication between said container and saiddevice, said sealing member having a projection that extends into thebore of said device and forms a sealing fit therewith, said projectionhaving a vertical bore therein closed at one end and which bore can forma segment of said passage, said sealing member having an imperforatetube extending from the bore therein to the first liquid, the bore inthe sealing member being adapted when said device and container aredisassembled to have its closed end removed so that on reassembling theparts a continuous passage is formed through which the first liquid canflow, said sealing member also having a flared skirt contacting theinner walls which form the opening in said container for effecting animproved liquid seal irrespective of variations in dimension of saidopening.

7. In combination: a container with an open top in which a first liquidcan be stored; an aspirating and liquid mixing device removably mountedon the open top of said container and having means on its upper externalportion for aspirating said first liquid from said container and forcooperating in mixing the aspirated liquid with a second liquid suppliedfrom a separate source, said device having a vertical bore extendingtherethrough which can form the upper segment of an imperforate passagethat extends to the first liquid and said device having a passagewayproviding communication between said bore and the atmosphere which mustbe closed to allow the aspirating operation to take place; and a sealingmember secured between the top of said device closing communicationbetween said container and said device, said sealing member having aprojection that extends into the bore of the device and forms a sealingfit therewith, said projection having a vertical bore therein closed atone end and which bore can form a segment of said passage, said sealingmember having an imperforate tube extending from the bore therein to thefirst liquid, the bore in the sealing member being adapted when saiddevice and container are disassembled to have its closed end removed sothat on reassembling the parts a continuous passage is formed throughwhich the first liquid can flow, said sealing member also having a plugadapted to be punched out when the parts are disassembled so that onreassembly of the parts atmospheric pressure will be exerted on thesurface of liquid in said container during aspirating operations.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said aspirating and liquidmixing device includes a duct providing fluid communication between theatmosphere and the interior of the container, and said sealing memberhas a plug which can be removed on disassembly of said parts so that onreassembly of such parts fluid communication is provided between saidduct and the space within the container below said sealing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,714,874 Hothersall May 28, 1929 2,030,853 Budwig Feb. 18, 19362,544,539 Manders Mar. 6, 1951 2,670,885 Allen Mar. 2, 1954 2,723,881Tupper Nov. 15, 1955 2,737,413 Mitchison Mar. 6, 1956 2,744,791 BudwigMay 8, 1956

